What Are Eco-Friendly Cups

by Sunny Ou Eco-Friendly Packaging for Food and Drinks

This article will guide you to know more about eco-friendly cups, including the difference between disposable cups and biodegradable cups.

Are disposable cups biodegradable?

No, most disposable cups are not biodegradable. Most disposable cups are lined with polyethylene (a type of plastic), so they will not biodegrade.

Can disposable cups be recycled?

Unfortunately, due to the polyethylene coating in disposable cups, they are unrecyclable. As well, the disposable cups get contaminated with whatever liquid was in them. Most recycling facilities just aren’t equipped to sort and separate disposable cups.

Despite consumer demand for plastic-free cups, plastic lining has been used by the food and beverage industry for many years. The polyethylene lining on a standard paper coffee cup retains heat, provides a barrier to liquids and maintains the cup’s structural integrity. However, the use of polyethylene limits the recyclability of the post-consumer cup.

What are eco-friendly cups?

Honestly, the most eco-friendly cups are reusable, NOT disposable. Euronews.com put together a great list of ecofriendly reusable cups; here. There are some really unique and forward-thinking reusable cups included on this list. In fact, I want to try all of them myself!

Since we are talking about disposable cups in this article, characteristics to look for when choosing the most ecofriendly disposable cups are:

>Compostable

>Made sustainably from FSC paper

>Lined with plant-based resin (NOT petroleum or plastic based)

Recommended: New Generation Recyclable Paper Cup | Water-Based Coating Paper Cups

Water-based coating paper cups are made from sustainable, recyclable, and biodegradable materials. Lined with plant-based resin (NOT petroleum or plastic based). Recyclable paper cups are the eco-friendly solution to supplying your customers with your most popular coffee drinks or juice.

Most disposable paper cups are not biodegradable. The paper cups are lined with polyethylene (a type of plastic). Recyclable packaging helps to reduce landfill, save trees and create a healthier world for future generations.

They are Recyclable | Re-pulpable | Compostable | Biodegradable

Making sure your disposable coffee cups check these three boxes will ensure you are drinking from the most ecofriendly cups.

Are paper coffee cups bad for the environment?

Yes, paper cups are bad for the environment and here is why:

1. Most paper cups are NOT made from recycled paper, instead virgin paper is used, meaning trees are cut down in order to make disposable paper coffee cups.

2. Paper that makes the cups are often mixed with chemicals that can harm the environment.

3. The lining of the cups is polyethylene, which is basically a plastic paste. Gross.

4. Polyethylene layer prevents paper coffee cups from being recycled.

What kind of disposable cups should we choose?

Choose biodegradable and compostable disposable cups that are very important, without any pollution to our earth. Better to choose the plant-based material disposable cups, like PLA coating paper cups or water-based coating paper cups. Both are eco-friendly to the environment. These are strong alternatives to plastic disposable cups.

Email: sunny@mvi-ecopack.com